Five Surprising Facts About Giada

1. She skips the gym!
Giada is definitely fit, but not from running. "The idea of being strapped to a treadmill every day is my worst nightmare," she says. She takes walks on the beach, does an hour of yoga most mornings and paddleboards in the Pacific Ocean.

2. She puts olive oil on her face.
One of Giada's favorite ingredients is also one of her beauty secrets: She mixes olive oil with white rice flour and uses it as a nighttime exfoliating paste. Plus, she regularly rubs olive oil into her hair and scalp to keep her locks shiny.

3. There's chocolate in her purse.
Giada always carries a little dark chocolate with her for an occasional treat. She also totes a mini pantry of healthful snacks: almonds, trail mix, agave nectar (to sweeten her coffee when she's on the go) and green tea bags.

4. She goes rogue in restaurants.
When Giada eats out, she often picks two appetizers instead of an appetizer and a main course. And when she orders salad, she sometimes asks for olive oil and lemon wedges to make her own dressing right at the table.

5. She snacks from the freezer.
Giada stashes sweet treats in the freezer because "they take a while to melt in your mouth," she says. "You can savor the sweetness longer." Some of her favorites: peppermint patties, sliced bananas and chocolate chips.

Find more tips and recipes in Giada's Feel Good Food ($32.50, Clarkson Potter).